That five-year contract, signed in 2022, allows Bellamy the option on an annual basis to continue as Melbourne Storm head coach for the following season or transition into an off-field coaching director role.
Bellamy had been tipped by NRL Queensland-based reporter Zane Bojack to make a move to the Gold Coast Titans next year to be closer to his daughter and her children, just eight months after Bellamy rejected the richest offer for a coach in NRL history - an estimated $10m from the Parramatta Eels last year before they opted for Jason Ryles.
Instead, he has confirmed on Thursday morning that he would see out the final year of his current deal, which will no doubt send speculation about his life from 2027 onwards into overdrive.
"He is expected to coach on in 2026," reporter Trent Kniese broke to Nine News Australia on Wednesday evening.
"In years gone by, the 66-year-old has made a decision on his future in May. All things going to plan, he is expected to come out as early as tomorrow (Thursday) and announce that he will coach on."
Confirmation came out via a press release from the club on Thursday morning, in which Bellamy stated:
“I’ve always said that I will only keep coaching if the players, coaches and club believe that I still have something to offer.
“As mentioned last season, my focus remains on developing our players and helping them learn and grow together as a team. Our squad is in a stable position and I’m looking forward to the improvement we can continue to make.
“I also want to ensure by making this decision that I’m not holding back any of our coaches, who continue to play a massive role in the improvement of this team. We have a great coaching group, who are very capable of stepping up and coaching at senior level.”
Bellamy's Storm are enduring a bit of a difficult period, alternating between victory and defeat across their last seven matches, but are still the standout Premiership favourites ahead of current league leaders Canterbury Bulldogs.
Exceptional circumstances notwithstanding, he will become the fourth man in first grade history to coach 600 senior games when the Storm take on the Sydney Roosters in Round 21.